Romney: Disclosure Ends Controversy Over $1 Million Contribution

MANCHESTER, N.H. – Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney said people should move past the controversy over a secretive $1 million donation to an outside campaign group that supports Mr. Romney’s presidential run.

Last week, political race watchers scratched their heads when a $1 million donation to Restore Our Future Inc., which can accept unlimited donations, came from W Spann LLC. NBC News later reported the company was created in March, gave the donation in April and was dissolved in July. Some said this suggested W Spann was created only to mask the identity of the donor.

On Friday, Ed Conrad, a former official at Bain Capital, which Mr. Romney cofounded, announced he was the man behind the firm.

“The whole controversy with regards to his contribution sort of disappears when he came forward and said he was the contributor,” Mr. Romney said at a Rotary Club meeting in Manchester. “He’s been a long-term business associate and friend of mine, a contributor in the past.”

Mr. Conrad asked Restore Our Future to amend its campaign filings to include his name. The PAC, started by former Romney aides, said it would do so.

“I was hoping he would make a contribution and was confident he would make a contribution as he had every campaign in the past,” Mr. Romney said.

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